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Monday, 20 February 12
COAL BOOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN - SUNIL K KUMBHAT
 COALspot.com - The dawn of the 21st century has seen a shift in the world's commercial balance of power, with the dominance of the US, Europe and Japan challenged by the rapid industrialisation of hungry new economies. The rise of the so-called BRIIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India ,Indonesia and China - is giving birth to new global financial centres, vibrant industrial markets and above all surging demand for raw materials to supply new projects.
But where does environmental responsibility fit into this drive for resources?
Growing demand for thermal Coal has created a new coal boom, which is great news for Coal producing countries such as Indonesia, Australia , south Africa . The demand of coal is growing at a massive rate in Asia particularly India and China. Both the coal hungry countries are making efforts to secure supplies by acquiring Coal mines or forming Joint ventures for their new power generating plants.
The demand is fuelling the world prices of coal, although prices are still not as high as witnessed in 2008 when everything peaked before the global financial crisis but there all indications that by 2012/2013 coal prises will reach to record high.
The India and China are becoming the mainstay of the market . Both the countries are having huge Coal reserves ,but still they are importing huge qty of coal to meet there increased demand and as such they are effectively driving the world Coal market and its prices. India’s demand for coal is expected to grow at a faster rate than any other country in the world.
India's rich untapped mineral resources of more than 20 mineral types - including gold, copper, coal and bauxite but the fact that many of these resources are located in rural, heavily forested areas with predominantly tribal populations has raised concerns over the environmental impact of mining operations.
The country has a long history of environmental damage caused by both domestic and international mining companies, as well as the ecological problems from hundreds of abandoned mines in areas like Bihar's Jharia and Rhaniganj coal fields. Like China, India has been plagued by the environmental problems associated with illegal and unlicensed mining operations, which the country's Directorate General of Mines Safety has been ill-equipped to deal with due to funding deficiencies.
Similarly China has come under fire from human rights activists and environmental groups alike for its arguably lax approach to both worker safety (the country has become the mining disaster capital of the world in recent years) and environmental accountability. The Chinese Government's approach to corporate and environmental responsibility has been characterised by outside observers as simply paying lip service to the environment - hinting that ISO guidelines for mining would be welcomed - without implementing practical measures to promote change.
The environmental impact of mining operations in Brazil is also under sharper scrutiny than many other countries, primarily because its borders contain the lion's share of the Amazon rainforest, a haven for biodiversity and one of the most important eco-systems in the world.
As such, environmental awareness is particularly strong in the Brazilian mining industry. Experts from the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards are playing a leadership role in the further development of the recently introduced ISO 26000 international standard on social responsibility. Furthermore, licensing for new mining projects is often legally conditional on the drafting of comprehensive environmental impact studies, reports and extensive public consultations, particularly in areas inhabited by tribal groups.
Although carrying out mining operations in a region like the Amazon will be controversial, the environmental commitment seen here and echoed by many other Brazilian mining companies (including industry giant Vale, which has a complex environmental quality management system based on ISO 14001 standards) provides a useful model of awareness for other BRIC nations, and the global mining industry in general, to follow.
India is emerging as a fast economy, targeting 9-10% annual growth. Realizing the underlying growth potential will largely depend on it's ability to meet energy requirements. Energy sector whose growth targets inter alia depend on coal. At a 9% growth rate, the capacity requirement will be 960Gw and energy requirement will be 4,806 billion kWh. In the light of these projections, coal demand is estimated to rise many fold. Main concentration of Indian companies remains in Indonesia as many new mines are opened for exploration , exploitation and production .Today Indonesia is one of the most rapidly developing coal producing country in the world.
For a strong economy, one needs strong infrastructure and power plants. For strong infrastructure and power plants , one needs steel. Steel is the backbone of an economy, and it is metallurgical coal and thermal coal that is used to produce steel and electricity.
An increase in Coal production is the opposite of what the global climate change forums have wanted to see because coal without any doubt is one of the dirtiest and filthiest fossil fuel in terms of CO2 and when it comes to harmful emissions that most environmentalists and energy economists agree causes global warming.
Coal consumption is going in a direction that policy makers would prefer it not to go.
Critical question is whether there is a willingness amongst coal producers and power generating plants to make their technology cleaner, so it emits less greenhouse gases(GHG) which leads to global warming .Energy scientists have long been voicing concern on the rise in the level of Greenhouse gases, which leads to Global warming and climatic changes that are detrimental to economies worldwide.
The disastrous consequences for global climate change is one topic that has now taken very serious dimension but hardly been realised in a serious enough way by the nations across the world.
The new thermal plants being built are certainly more efficient than older ones. There exist technology to have emission-free power plants - the only constraint is the cost. The cost of clean coal technology is very high, yet when we look at the alternatives to coal, they are even higher than that - for example, nuclear, solar, wind. The real costs of all these alternatives are still to be determined, but there is no doubt that clean coal technologies can double the cost of coal in generating energy.
None of the alternatives appears to be commercially viable right now for required generation of energy without considering subsidies and tax incentives . If any country accepts sustainable growth and development as the way forward, it subsumes the climate change issues.
At the same time, no country can ignore the inherent contradiction in the expression ‘sustainable growth’.
Growth essentially involves exploiting natural resources for human benefit and countries have to strike a delicate balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth. It is easier said than done.
As the climate issue impinges on everyone, wisdom demands that nations sink their petty differences in approach and strategy to stem the danger from spreading further and squeezing the survival prospects of one and all.
Principally, the efforts boil down to reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, caused primarily by accelerated economic development through exploitation of fossil fuels rich in carbon dioxide.
Every action does not need to be official or based on protocols. In any case, every country need to adopt new methods and ways of doing things in optimising the use of exhaustible resources, energy and water. Corporations / Institutions must carry out energy analysis and incorporate environmental accounting practices to reduce green house gas emission levels at their facilities. The government, in turn, could enforce a form of taxation based on companies’ contribution to climate change.
Climate change is today's biggest problem, threatening mankind with extinction. The problem, largely of man's own doing, must be treated as an emergency by all.
The president of Indonesia issued a Presidential decree instructing all central and regional authorities to support the moratorium by suspending the granting of permits for the use of “primary natural forests” for two years. This Presidential decree is part of Indonesia’s efforts to comply with the bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Norway on forest conservation.
Various governments worldwide are beginning to put regulations in place and to encourage development of more sustainable sources of power generation in order to protect populations worldwide from the immediate detrimental effects on life and health, and to protect the environment for future generation.
By : Sunil K Kumbhat , Jodhpur( Rajasthan ) India
Views expressed herein are personal views of the author and not that of COALspot.com.
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Wednesday, 04 April 12
CHURCHILL MINING TO ACCELERATE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AGAINST INDONESIA
Churchill Mining plc (AIM: CHL), advises that notations on the Indonesian Supreme Court's register of cases shows the Supreme Court has rejected th ...
Monday, 02 April 12
BANGLADESH EYEING INDONESIA FOR COAL
COALspot.com - The high level executives of Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) of Bangladesh is visiting Ind ...
Monday, 02 April 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The first quarter of the New Year ended with the BDI standing 42% above from the 26 years’ bottom low of 662 points on February 1st, and a pos ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
THE BDI CONTINUED TO MOVE UPWARD - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The BDI continued to move upward and rose by 2.86 pct closing at 934 points.
The cape index was up by 3.14 pct closing at 1,412 po ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
SRI LANKA IMPORTS 152,555 MT OF INDONESIAN COAL IN FEBRUARY
COALspot.com: Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, shipped 27.126* million tons of coal in February 2012, compared to 28.21* million to ...
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- The University of Queensland
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Parliament of New Zealand
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